Lian Li PC-9N Review

Lian Li PC-9N Introduction:

This is my first brush with Lian Li - I know the company, but I had never really seen any product up close. So I did a little research. Lian Li has been around since 1983, so it has been in business for 30 years making aluminum cases. In 2009 a subsidiary by the name of LanCool has been making non-aluminum cases aimed at the gamer and enthusiast. But Lian Li has an impressive range of aluminum cases from entry level to high end in about every style and size you can think of. It even has the PC-CK101, which is shaped like a steam engine. Equally impressive is the range of chassis accessories, external hard drive and NAS (Network Attached Storage) enclosures, and power supplies.

Today we have the all aluminum PC-9N in black (silver is also available), which is a mid tower (ATX / micro ATX) case with room for up to a 430mm long graphics card.

Lian Li PC-9N Closer Look:

Here we have the box. The sides and ends are identical, so I only have a single shot of each. Nothing fancy in the graphics department. I can see that there is what appears to be a side vent, perhaps large enough for two fans, and I like that. And really, not much more about the case features. And that is fine because honestly, I am usually anxious to get busy with the details and I don't pay much attention to the box. However, if you are at the computer store and don't have the luxury of Internet access, it is nice to be able to compare all of the features and options between cases, which is why the box often plays the role of the salesperson.

The plastic bag does its job and keeps the case clean and dust free during storage and shipping, and the heavy Styrofoam end caps ensure that rough handling won't leave your case banged up.

Out of the box and packing, the case looks nice. Brushed aluminum and anodized black. Now we are ready to take a closer look at the exterior. As I take the packaging off, I am again reminded how light this case is. I like the large side vent.